Great Powers, Grand Strategies: The New Game in the South China Sea

by Anders Corr (Editor)

Overview

Great Powers, Grand Strategies offers the analysis of a dozen experts on the “big picture” approaches to the South China Sea dispute. By exploring the international dimensions of this regional hotspot, Gordon Chang, Bernard Cole, James Fanell, Bill Hayton, and others examine how the military, diplomatic, and economic strategies of the major global actors have both contributed to solutions and exacerbated the potential for conflict. As editor of this volume, Anders Corr seeks to juxtapose the grand strategies of the great powers to determine the likely outcomes of the South China Sea dispute, as well as evaluate the ways to possibly defuse tensions in the region.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682477632
Publisher:	Naval Institute Press
Publication date:	01/15/2022
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Anders Corr, PhD, is the publisher of the Journal of Political Risk. He Has visited all South China Sea claimant countries, including field research in Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Brunei. Dr. Corr conducted analysis for USPACOM, CENTCOM, EUCOM, SOCPAC, and NATO, including field research in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Introduction Anders Corr 1

1 Why China Built Its New Islands: From Abstract Claim to Concrete Assets Bill Hayton 41

2 Old Game Plan, New Game: Chinas Grand Strategy in the South China Sea Ian Forsyth 74

3 Chinas Maritime Sovereignty Campaign: Scarborough Shoal, the "New Spratly Islands," and Beyond James E. Fanell 106

4 ASEAN, Grand Strategy, and the South China Sea: Between China and the United States Leszek Buszynski 122

5 The Evolution of U.S. Strategy in the South China Sea: Tacking with Regional Strategic Winds Sean R. Liedman 147

6 U.S. Rebalancing Strategy and Disputes in the South China Sea: A Legacy for America's Pacific Century Tongfi Kim 174

7 Japan's Grand Strategy in the South China Sea: Principled Pragmatism Takashi Inoguchi Ankit Panda 199

8 India's "Grand Strategy" and the South China Sea: New Delhi's Evolving Response to Chinese Expansionism Gordon G. Chang 224

9 Paradoxes Abounding: Russia and the South China Sea Issue Stephen Blank 248

10 The European Union: Setting a New Course for the South China Sea Peter M. Solomon 273

Conclusion Bernard D. Cole 289

Contributor Biographies 307

Index 313

Editorial Reviews

If you want a [tough] approach to China, look no further than the edited volume Great Powers, Grand Strategies: The New Great Game in the South China Sea.” —The American Interest

“With a series of well-researched and heavily supported chapters written by regional, political, and military experts, Anders Corr has put together a volume of work that brings together all of the important facts about the challenges in the South China Sea…. This book is recommended for anyone interested in seeing how regional issues can entangle global affairs, those interested in China’s views and motives, or those simply interested in the backstory of one of the world’s most dynamic contemporary territorial disputes…. As the South China Sea is one of the locations most likely to spark a great power conflict, this book is an excellent primer on why great powers are taking their current courses of action, what they might do in the future, and the likely strategies that rivals, allies, and currently nonaligned powers might follow through with if pressed to make a decisive decision.” —Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs

“Great Powers, Grand Strategies: The New Game in the South China Sea, edited by Anders Corr, is a good read because it puts the South China Sea conflict into a global strategic context…. From the in-depth Introduction to the incisive chapters, the tactical and strategic events and analyses provided by the authors will make it difficult to put this book down.” —The Maritime

“A very topical book, this one is right up-to-date…. It’s comprised of a collection of ten first rate essays…. Taking a strategic approach, the combined essays provide an excellent analysis.” —Workboat World

“The book is unique in the existing literature in that it provides an all-encompassing, interconnected, and theoretical explanation of major powers involved in the South China Sea conflict.” —Asian Maritime Reviews

“Great Powers, Grand Strategies provides a timely and insightful analysis of the many facets of this new region of Great Power politics…. It's an excellent synopsis of the confluence of international interests and challenges within the South China Sea.... I recommend this work to those seeking to understand the potential impacts of the Great Power’s actions, the reasoning behind them and the methodologies that support them.” —The Australian Naval Institute

“This book is highly recommended as required pre-reading for the Canadian Armed Forces leadership involved in both generating and employing our military forces in the South China Sea region. Further, given that Canada plans to submit its Arctic continental shelf claim under UNCLOS in 2018—claims that will be doubtless disputed by others—a read of how similar claims are being managed (or not) in another part of the world will be helpful. Consulting this book would be well worth it for our federal leaders and diplomats.” —Starshell

“The book is a highly recommended guide for politicians, diplomats and naval officers concerned by the South China Sea to keep near at hand.” —Warships: International Fleet Review

“A very topical book, this one is right up-to-date with almost current news, comprising a collection of ten first rate essays by leading strategic commentators from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and Belgium. Well describing the status quo the essays cover the interests, strengths, weaknesses and likely intentions of all the major national players in the South China Sea region. Taking a strategic approach, the combined essays provide an excellent analysis of the situation prevailing in the region in 2017 together with some realistic predictions of the likely outcomes from the turmoil there. It is not a very pretty picture but at least it gives planners something to work on.” —Baird Maritime

“This book constitutes an important contribution to the understanding of Great Power politics and rivalry in the South China sea.”—Contemporary Southeast Asia

...Great Powers, Grand Strategies, a new book published by the U.S. Naval Institute Press that offers historical, regional, and global perspectives on the significance of the South China Sea to 21st century international politics." —Asian Review of Books

"Appropriate for the general reader, the volume explores the global nature of the South China Sea conflict while examining the economic, diplomatic, and military strategies of the countries laying claim to the waters." —ProtoView

“Trenchant analysis by twelve acknowledged experts on China’s “take and talk” strategy that has in the course of the past few years dramatically altered the geomilitary balance of power in the Indo Asia-Pacific region. Highly recommended for policymakers and interested amateurs alike.” —June Teufel Dreyer, Professor of Political Science, University of Miami

“Authors of the South and East China Sea, a subject which has drawn attention of the strategic community for over two decades and is perhaps one of the most important issues in the arena of international relations of contemporary times. The volume details the entire sequence of events as influenced by intricate inter-littoral linkages of the claimant states, the involvement of the lone superpower and other major powers of the world. The book renders a refreshing perspective as the contents are portrayed through the prism of grand strategy. This makes this volume a must read for students of geopolitics and international maritime law. The disparate format of well researched essays provides sufficient overlap of facts with varied interpretations which helps the reader to sharpen perceptions about the contesting claims between China and the ASEAN claimants in the South China Sea (SCS) and Japan in East China Sea (ECS).” —The Eastern Link

"Great Powers, Grand Strategies is an important resource for understanding the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea. In addition to careful examinations of Chinese and U.S. behavior, the book includes chapters exploring the strategies of ASEAN, Russia, and other important but overlooked actors in the dispute."—Eric Gomez, Policy Analyst, Cato Institute

“An insightful collection of essays focusing on the grand strategies of major powers and international and regional organizations that impact the South China Sea conflict. The essays in this volume provide important perspectives on its likely contours and trajectory.”—Lynn Kuok, Brookings Institution and University of Cambridge

"Drawing upon an all-star team of leading scholars and practitioners, Anders Corr articulates the notion of the South China Sea as a locus of strategic competition where simmering maritime disputes have significant implications for major powers well beyond its confines, and where the international power balance is being redefined."—Alessio Patalano, King's College London

From the Publisher